Ever since humanity first gazed upon the stars a couple of thousand years ago, the idea of space exploration has stuck with us a constant remainder of the frontiers yet to be conquered. The research and technological developments needed to sustain it are however extremely costly and time consuming, the big breaks often appearing few and far in between as a result. Some of the most interesting and recent developments concerning this topic are:

NASA’s Deep Space Atomic Clock: With the goal of one day allowing spacecrafts to navigate in deep space without aid from Earth’s signals in order to locate themselves, this project aims to develop a full-fledged miniaturized GPS system that allows manned or otherwise crews to travel through space without the need for any external assistance. Atomic Clocks themselves are nothing new as a great deal of our telecommunications’ infrastructure depends on their ability to triangulate positions by keeping track of the time a signal takes to reach a recipient and bounce back to the source, but are unfortunately insufficient to accurately direct a spacecraft through space. This system works by equipping spacecrafts with a mercury ion clock 50 times more stable than GPS clocks that allows a ship to triangulate its own position with a single one way transmission from Earth, thus shortening the process. The success of this project would signify moving past the monstrous antennas nowadays utilized to guide missions by giving the latter an option to move without waiting for Earth’s instructions, which can often take several minutes before reaching them. A prototype of this new iteration of GPS has been rotating around the planet since June 2019 and will be for a year in order to test its effectiveness.

The Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM): As part of NASA’s objective to establish a permanent human base on the moon by 2028, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Edwards Air Force Base in California has developed a new green alternative to the fuel currently being used; a hazardous hydrazine based propellant. This new alternative blends hydroxyl ammonium nitrate with an oxidizer and has proven to be much less toxic as well as offering an outstanding 50% increase in performance, both shrinking operation costs and the needed preparation time before launch. A complete revamping of the entire hardware came with the development of this new resource as well, pushing engineers to design a new propulsion system to work with it; this consists of a tank and five 1-Newton thrusters to carry the green propellant. Given the clear benefits this project brings along the incrementing focus on micro-satellites with less capacity for fuel, it was only a matter of time before the need for this new alternative arose.

Humanity first conquered the moon in 1969 yet we have been absent from it ever since, but recently NASA has been charged with returning by 2024 and facilitate the means to stay on our natural satellite by 2028. Just as we grow ever closer to finally reaching Mars.

Human civilisation has always striven for better. The journey from impossible to possible is nothing short of magical.

Here are some mind boggling testimonies of human imagination that could change the way we conduct our day-to-day businesses.

1. Cognitive Technology

Cognitive computing has pervaded all areas of our lives; from business to healthcare, travel and even adventure. Some examples include Lifelearn, Welltok and Wayblazer.

Welltok uses Cafewell Concierge which can process vast amount of data as well as answer queries and give insightful suggestions. It gives suggestions to health insurers and insurance providers.

Lifelearn uses a decision support tool called Sofie which uses information to decide on the best possible ways of treatment. It is commonly used in veterinary clinics.

Wayblazer is a personalised travel concierge and lets you ask natural language questions about places for vacation, accommodation.

2. Digestible Pill That Detects Diseases

Would you believe if I told you that you didn’t need to go to a doctor for a checkup? How about a magic pill?
You wouldn’t.

Google X has developed a pill that uses nanotechnology to detect cancer cells in our bodies. It is coordinated with a wearable that gives the results. The digestible pill releases iron-oxide nanoparticles into your bloodstream.

These, then, send biochemical signals if cancer cells are found. The wearable device creates a magnetic field to which these nanoparticles respond. As a result, carcinogenic cells are identified by painting.

3. Artificial Sun

Can we simulate nature to generate energy? It seems we can. Chinese Academy-of-Sciences has set out to create an artificial sun by heating plasma inside the Experimental Advanced-Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) magnetic fusion-chamber. EAST is 11 metres tall and can generate six times the heat of the sun, around 100 million Celsius.

It weighs around 400 tonnes and is 8 metres wide. The project that has been endorsed by the International Thermonuclear-Experimental Reactor will use deuterium and tritium for nuclear fusion to create a pollution free sustainable source of energy.

4. Mega Scale Geoengineering Project

Climate change is an issue that has become the scourge of humanity today. This geoengineering project is an attempt to restore balance. Climate change works to control carbon emissions and reduce its effects, a phenomenon that is also known as cloud whitening that involves seeding stratocumulus clouds with large amounts of tiny seawater particles.

Cloud whitening will increase reflectivity and in order to ensure its effectiveness, tiny mirrors will be made to float in between earth and sun to increase reflectivity. Geoengineering includes planting artificial trees as well as enhancing ocean alkalinity by adding lime to seawater. It aims at reducing the effects of climate change.

5. Floating Farms

UN predicts that the human population will exceed 200 billion by 2050. This may result in the death of accommodation and scarcity of food. To remedy this, industry experts may have to set up floating farms on seas.

An architect Javier Ponce of Forwarding Thinking-Architecture has designed a 24m tall, three-tiered structure that is equipped with solar panels that will grow vegetables over an area of 51,000-metre squares. Remarkably, the crops will not use nutrients from the liquid. A farm measuring 350m X 200m would produce roughly 8.1 tonnes of vegetables and 1.7 tonnes of fish in a year.

It’s no secret that machines will eventually supersede men. It won’t be long before we establish intergalactic communication.

High-quality staff acquisition is vital to any organization or individual. Here are 5 quick and effective ways to identify good employees during the interview and probation process;

i. Type and scale of past achievements.

Whether personal, academic or auxiliary, past achievements give an inkling to the internal balance of a candidate. Professional achievements that are in line with the position applied to show the proven ability to accomplish the required goals. Personal achievements, such as marriage or children, give further inference as family-oriented types are statistically known to be more reliable than singles. Well-rounded achievements, such as sports or acting endeavors, imply a dynamic individual who is able to handle various tasks.

An achievement history will also make it easier to vet candidates from third parties such as previous employers and workmates.

ii. Candidate first impressions.

A desirable first impression can be used to root out the wheat from the chaff. A likable, genuine vibe, coupled with non-verbal cues such as direct eye contact and confident replies demonstrates honesty and self-confidence. This may also hint at other vital virtues such as problem-solving skills and determination.

Self-awareness can also be intuited from a first impression and may indicate that the candidate has the ability to play to their strengths and weaknesses. This way of evaluation needs caution as when overly trusted, it may leave room for high functioning frauds. Other virtues such as courtesy are a bonus because they help maintain work-place serenity.

iii. Candidate preparedness.

This is vital in both interviews and probation periods. Is the candidate ready with all the requisite documents? Are they punctual? Do they timely meet set deadlines? These are indicators of the level of preparation that they will carry forward into the workplace. Preparation directly influences efficiency which is vital to company operations. It is also an indicator of the level of dedication a candidate is willing to put into their output.

There are instances where candidate preparedness is a negative factor, especially where the interviewer is looking to put potential employees on the spot. High-pressure interviews identify off-the-cuff qualities necessary in a highly dynamic work environment such as live news presentation.

iv. Knowledge of the employer.

Whether an individual or an organization, the prospective employee should have a comprehensive understanding of the vision, goals, and operations of their prospective employer. This shows an interest in the firm beyond a pay check.

This directly affects vital traits such as motivation and passion. High scores in these areas are a prerequisite for optimal employee output and should be vetted from the start.

v. Openness to change and growth.

A prospective employees’ willingness to learn new things, augment current skills and adapt to new situations and work environments is vital. New positions may require travel, relocation, sector shifts or re-education.

A demonstrable willingness to change will enable a prospective employee to handle these curves in a more effective manner.

Quickly being able to determine the viability of a candidate saves on both time and resources. It streamlines workforce acquisition and raises the quality of take-on staff. This has a direct effect on output and can either raise or maintain bottom lines. These methods need to be tailored according to the field they are employed in.

Web design has come a long way from the dark ages of the internet, where visionary technology was little more than a few glowing green pixels on a dark screen.

And it’s not done growing yet.

Everyday, thousands of websites are adding new features, revolutionary design, beautifully rendered graphics and animations. But this is still the beginning.

Pioneers in website development realize the possibilities of a boundless future to the internet, where users can explore an entire universe with their fingertips.

But, where are we right now? Here’s how web design is being improved by advancements in programming, from simple to complex:

It’s easier than ever to design a website

Perhaps the most important element of the internet is its openness. It was created as a network accessible by anyone who could, its public nature is one of its core values.

So, in theory, everyone should be in on it, right? Well, one of the leading online industries is user-friendly web development. Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Duda, designed to allow users to easily create, customize, and share their websites, have allowed brick and mortar businesses to engage with customers online.

Importantly, the pages created on these builders are mobile-friendly, giving users who aren’t technologically savvy to focus on the aesthetics of their site rather than decipher the necessary coding to allow a website to run smoothly on a smartphone.

Websites are more functional and interactive

And since more and more websites are being accessed on mobile devices, they are required to act intelligently according to the user’s device – which isn’t much bigger than the palm of their hand. Therefore, in order to ensure a fluid, logical experience, the design has to be logical and interactive.

Many websites are adapting to be more like applications. The design functions and UI/UX patterns used in applications – like animations between screens and scrolling layouts – are finding their way into modern web design.

Some UI/UX prototype software like Adobe Experience Design CC and UXPin allow users to transform the elements necessary in their webpage onto a manageable viewing platform, allowing these elements to engage and interact in a natural, intelligent manner.

Decorative design has a purpose

Anton Zykin, founder and CEO of SFCD, an agency that helps clients create functional UI/UX design, believes that the future of web design lies in the unity of decoration and function, with aesthetics and application converging rather than acting separately.

Essentially, modern web design is focusing on creating design that is both beautiful and useful, no space on the page is unwasted.

One way this has become a reality is in the proliferation of modular design – in which pages are built with several, reusable pieces, or modules, rather than choosing and being locked to a specific template.

Interaction outside the usual devices

At this point, interacting with the internet on laptops, smartphones, and tablets is second nature for the average person. But new, interactive technology has given access to a new kind of access to the web.

Smartwatches, once scoffed as little more than overpriced toys, are now accessing LTE networks, allowing app designers to create mobile applications that work independently of the device paired with the watch. And VR? The progress of virtual reality allows for users to immerse themselves in their screen and interact with websites in previously unexplored ways.

The future

It’s hard to say what web design’s next big break will be – interactive online worlds using VR, intuitive mobile sites performing functions we’ll soon wonder how we lived without. Artificial Intelligence will have a huge role to play in the overall internet’s ongoing evolution, and probably soon.

The internet is fluid, constantly changing, malleable to the will of those interacting with it. So what’s next? In a lot of ways, it’s up to us to decide.

Major knowledge advancements have been integrated in web building and development. Today, almost anybody can own a website without formal knowledge of web mark-up languages. HTML (hyper text mark-up language) and CSS (cascading style sheet)used to and still play a vital role in building interactive web pages of all sorts and for all purposes. But presently, there are several platforms for building any kind of website from e-commerce, blog, photography, advertising and the likes. These platforms have developed a powerful that preempts a knowledge of coding. Although, they all offer great contents for enhancing your website and giving it that professional look to suit your satisfaction. Example of these providers are WordPress, Wix, Jomda, Weebly and Squarespace.

We are placing more emphasis on Squarespace. What is Squarespace? Is it preferable to hire a website designer or use a website builder like Squarespace.

Squarespace is a visually appealing website launched in 2004 with the aim of providing a web building tool for businesses and individuals. It comes with the bundles for user to make choices as this makes for flexibility. It is very easy to use by simply dragging and dropping. It is built with over a thousand templates to choose from, an optimized SEO, upholds
all hosting requirements and provides an enhanced e-commerce functionality.

Platforms like Squarespace obliges you to pay an amount of dollar on a monthly basis and this depends on the bundle selected.

On the other hand, a website designer can be an individual or a firm. Either way, they are experts that can share your business vision with you and then fashion a website that will completely tailor the needs of your business. Website designers are unique in terms of delivering creative websites and would always be there to take on
any tweak when there is a need for it.

A lot of factors determine why one should hire a professional web designer or Squarespace to build hi/her website. In this
article , we will make a comparison below between hiring a web designer and using Squarespace.

Attribute Web Designer Squarespace

1. Cost and affordability

In most cases, it is always expensive to hire a professional web designer to come up with a website that can perfectly tailor and align with your business With a little amount of money, one can setup a website on Squarespace. This is the major reason it is the most sought after.

2. Delivery Time

Unlike Squarespace, a web designer can take as long as a month to deliver. A website can be created and fully optimized under an hour having selected and made payment for a particular template.

3. Design

Because professional web designers have a profound knowledge of user interface and how vital it is for a website to enchant users, they tend to produce better designs compared to Squarespace. Most of these key elements are discussed while hiring a web designer. Besides this, there’s reliability for a generic design since pervasive templates aren’t used. In terms of design, Squarespace cannot in any dissected segment be compared to a professional web designer’s output. Reason being that most of the paid-for websites still feel like templates and they aren’t unique. A total of over hundred people can choose the same website. This is one pitfall of any website building platform.

4. SEO

It is the duty of the web designer to provide a robust and well programmed SEO for your business while building your site. SEO is usually included in the web building plan. Unlike a professional website designer, Squarespace does not offer
highly optimized and advanced tools for a yielding SEO.

5. Conversion and Flexibility

A professional web designer will optimize a website in such a way that it allows for smooth conversions. There may be need to tweak the website later on in the future, however it is the job of the designer to make it as flexible as possible. Nothing can be done here in terms of conversion even at its highest purchased bundle. Sometimes the owner of the business may want to include one or two things but Squarespace does not create for that.

In a current report, financial analysts inferred that each extra modern robot diminished work in a given driving area by 3 to 6 workers, and brought general wages by 0.25 down to 0.5 percent. A mechanical robot is a completely self-governing machine that can be modified to perform diverse manual assignments without a human administrator or human supervision. As per the Universal Alliance of Mechanical technology, there are as of now between 1.5-1.75 million modern robots in operation, with the car business utilizing 39% of these robots. “At the point when robots go up against human work,” composed Acemoglu and Restrepo, “we appraise that one extra robot for each thousand workers now decreases total employment to populace proportion by 0.34 rate focuses and total wages by 0.5 percent.” In any case, if the concentration is “just on decreases in work in intensely robotized producing, and assume that business misfortunes in different areas are because of neighborhood request and won’t straightforwardly convert into national impacts, these impacts can be as small as 0.18 rate focuses on work and 0.25 percent for compensation.”

Likewise recommends that activity prospects are more terrible for men as a result of willful imperatives, for example, their pride: “Robots influenced the two men’s and ladies’ occupations, the specialists found, yet the impact on male work was up to twice as large. The information doesn’t clarify why however Mr. Acemoglu had a figure: Ladies are more ready than men to take a compensation slice to work in a lower-status field.” That is one clarification, yet it is likewise genuine that ladies’ business isn’t influenced via computerization as much as men’s on account of the lower-winning occupations regularly held by ladies are harder to mechanize.

Or, on the other hand, maybe ladies who suspect occupation misfortunes because of mechanization are all the more ready to learn aptitudes that robots are not ready to copy yet, for example, social abilities and non-routine cooperations. In a current Harvard Business Audit article on computerized reasoning, the writers clarify that regardless of the possibility that robots start to supplant people in an assortment of undertakings, “this does not spell fate for human employment, the same number of specialists propose. That is because the estimation of human judgment abilities will increment.” As robots supplant bring down talented employments held fundamentally by men, for example, those in the car business, men may progress into fields that are right now overwhelmed by ladies, into occupations which have not yet possess the capacity to be completely mechanized because they require more noteworthy social or passionate detecting. What we may see at that point is an expansion in compensation in these particular ladies’ fields – as more men enter the calling, the compensation and status will increment since it is not anymore a “pink-collar” work.

An extra advantage to computerization is that human workers will grow new intellectual or tangible abilities to supplement the normal errands performed by the robot. These “delicate aptitudes”, for example, versatility, innovativeness, and the capacity to perceive nuanced feelings and react to them suitably are popular for an extensive variety of employment.

Virtual Reality is a technology that gives the user a real life kind of experience, although in a virtual or imaginary world. This feat is achieved by using a ‘virtual reality’ headset to enter a simulated 3D computer generated world. Apart from the headset, sometimes sensors are also used to mimic the physical reality of what you are witnessing. To create the virtual world, a 3600 or omnidirectional camera is deployed.

After a modest start (the exact origin is disputed), the use of VR has been on an upward trend. The formation of the consortium called Web3D hugely contributed to this rise and many industries are adopting it for various functional purposes. Let us explore the 5 industries which will be impacted the most by VR.

Gaming:

From the rudimentary low-resolution graphics rendered by the first ever computer game ‘Spacewar’ way back in 1962, the gaming industry has surely come a long way. Today’s games are a bundle of high-resolution graphics, extreme complexity and require some serious computing power to run. Some computer manufacturers are making machines, especially dedicated to gaming and this is proof in itself of the popularity and ever increasing number of gaming fanatics.

Virtual Reality and gaming almost look like an obvious combination as all the gaming companies have the ‘user experience’ as their prime motive. Many popular games are now being released in their VR versions as well. And in the foreseeable future, it is inevitable that all the games will be available in VR versions, with all the frills like sensors, motion detectors, gyroscopes etc. This surely would give the gamers a feel of being ‘in’ the game itself.

Movies and Entertainment:

The blockbuster Avatar was the first movie to be shot using omnidirectional cameras and had an almost real life like graphics. We may safely extrapolate that the movie goers and entertainment seekers would surely be welcomed by the VR experience. The time of VR and entertainment is not too far away. Let’s explore a few places in the entertainment space where VR may see its presence.

– Amusement Rides: Instead of Amusement parks occupying acres of land with massive flywheels or rides, the future might witness the ‘riders’ experience the same thrill, shrieks and adrenaline rush but using a VR enabled set-up.

– Movies and Television: This surely is a given fact that the future of movies and television would usher an era of real life experience through VR Technology.

Education:

VR enabled classrooms would surely be a boon for students of the future. Imagine the entire courseware being visualized through VR technology and the students grasping the nitty-gritty of the subject by using their sense of sight & hearing.

The grasping and the comprehension are sure to increase exponentially. Moreover, the entire subject delivery can be made uniform and students don’t have to bear with the teaching styles of various teachers.

Defense and Homeland Security:

Even today, it is common practice followed by the Defense Contractors to supply simulators for complex machineries. The future is highly likely to witness the VR in some of the following:

– Induction Training: Like the aforementioned usage in the education sector, the induction training or part of it is highly perceivable to be delivered using the VR technology.

– Weapons training and exercise: Usage of VR in weapons training and weapon usage exercises is highly conceivable. This would not only optimize the costs, but also negate the perils of injury or other mishaps.

– War Gaming and strategic planning: The entire perception of the war field can be captured using VR thereby the war gaming and strategic planning can be easily & accurately done using the true on-ground scenarios.

Aviation:

The aviation sector may possibly use the VR technology in the following.

– Pilot Training: Similar to the weapon training and exercise the pilots may use the VR enabled classrooms for their training and retraining.

– Averting accidents and casualties: Ground staff and the air controllers may have VR technology installed. With VR, they would have a 360 view of the space and to avert any accident they may be quickly able to work out various scenarios and suggest the best course of action to the pilot in real-time.

Music is one of the industries that is, and shall be remembered among the most changed industries globally. Music, which was initially recognized from a cultural perspective, has been slowly evolving within different cultures over years. And this evolution has been as a result of many factors such as cultural innovation, expansion, societal acceptance and rejection among other factors. Currently, music industry has totally changed leading to a significant shift in the principles and sub-currents guiding musical growth, expansion and innovation in the more globalized and industrialized human societies.

The big question therefore is whether we shall have back the grace that was formerly attached to music both as an instrument of cultural heritage and as a form of literature. To predict the future, we must first of all have a review of the past and a perfect understanding of the present, in regard to music industry. Here is a brief account of what has happened, how it is happening and what to expect in the music industry in future.

Music as a Tool of Cultural Heritage

In the past, musical creativity and composition using various techniques was done with a primary aim of winning recognition from the highly acknowledged commissions in the society such as churches and royal courts. If a musician performed well, he/she enjoyed a sense of accomplishment and pride. In search for this, musicians went on studying, understanding, mastering and naturally researching music as natural scientists. This was done with a core aim of gaining recognition in the society.

Today things have changed. Musicians no longer search for recognition in their societies and cultures, but in the global village. Internet is everything to musicians, plus every detail it conveys. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Istagram and many others are the avenues of recognition for good music composition. Present music does not address issues in the society, it seeks to fulfill interests of all social media users. Even in the present social institutions, musical composition and presentation is meant to fulfill the interests of the audience, not the society needs.

It is anticipated that as long as the use of social media continues to expand and more users adopt them, we are going to have even more musicians seeking social media fame, and those already doing so are working even harder to become more famous. There is no evidence that utilization of social media and internet at large shall cease and take music back to where it used to be.

Music as a Profession

While music was traditionally performed as an area of interest or a talent, today it is hard to distinguish ‘true’ musicians from
‘fake’ ones. Traditional music was original both in form and content. Every composer was unique with their own style and information. Music was pure exploitation of talent and ability, which further led to a feeling of accomplishment when a musician had just played a song. In simple terms, a musician could play alone in a private room and still feel satisfied. Today’s music portrays a ‘persuading’ connotation. It is a profession people choose to venture in and earn money so that they can make a living.

If Jazz is more marketable on Twitter for instance, then why go for Rock? Even if a musician is more talented in a certain type of music, you won’t see him play it until he’s totally convinced of selling his music. In short, present music is a way to earn a living and if one doesn’t want to become a teacher or a journalist, they can still choose music and still make a living.

Modern Technology

Technology has completely changed the way music is produced and consumed in the modern society. With emergency of specific technologies such as multi-track recording, auto tune and digital software,. Music industry is no longer the same as it was in the past. Taking auto tune for example, it is something that has existed for decades, initially meant to perfect music. In the current generation, musicians now use auto tune in a totally different way. They use it to shift the tune, pitch and other elements of music. In the process, they distort original music while creating something unoriginal. Worst of all, several musicians are now using auto tune and coming up with almost similar staff, which does not only make music boring but also reduces the quality of music produced.

Multi-track music recording has affected originality of music. Traditional music was purely original because recording was done for the entire song. Multi-track recording has made it possible to record different parts of music separately which makes allows musicians to edit original music. The fact that multi-track recording is widely utilized by musicians means that music that has existed for a long time may be in danger of losing both meaning and form. Other technologies include digital streaming software, emergency of mp3 music players, smartphones, Loop pedals among other technological influences.

Piracy and Touring

Touring has become very common for most bands as they can now move freely everywhere and play music to earn money. This is as a result of pirating that has greatly influenced music industry. It is very common to download, edit and playing music due to advancements in technology. But its downside is that music owners suffer a great deal. Music copyright is no longer protected due to widespread pirating. According to The Recording Industry Association of America’s website, statistics reveal that pirating does not only affect the artist but also a huge number of people who work with music industry.

Dumbing Down of Music

Music has been oversimplified in such a way that even the youths who are unable to produce original content in a unique style are also counted among the most prolific musicians. You will notice a number of emerging musicians featuring most on certain topics like money, women, drugs and in some parts, religion. While these topics are equally affecting the modern society, the fact is that the emphasis from modern music is not enough to serve its role. Music is done with a simple intent of making money, not making change. Other important topics like Nationalism and Unity are often forgotten because no musician is brave enough to tackle such topics.

Copy Cat Industries

While traditional music was greatly determined by influence, today it is common that inasmuch as modern musicians are influenced by some cultures, they are seeking perfection to achieve popularity. They are most interested in quick acquisition of popularity rather than originality. You find several artists using the same style and to some extent, the same content similar to one popular musician. This has diluted music industry to an extent that it has now become difficult to tell original music from unoriginal. For instance, it is difficult to distinguish 2 Chainz from Meek Mill Rap Music as they both sound and rap the same. This is an attempt to seek popularity using one style they deem popular.

As long as musicians continue to earn living through music, what we should expect is more commercial activities than real music in the industry.

In a nutshell, music industry has been greatly influenced by a number of factors, core among them being advancement in technology. The above described, among other factors have led to changes in music industry. The grim reality is that these factors are getting to the extreme and attempts to restore the grace of traditional music industry are very few. This is a clear manifestation that music industry may not get back to its former grace.

If a company wants social media users to like, follow and share their content over and over again –the organization ought to be creative and witty so as to reach a wider audience. Several big companies have become pros on social media promotion and won the hearts of many. Below are some of the big names that have run very successful social media promotional campaigns

1. Coca-Cola Superbowl’s “America It’s Beautiful

With the current political temperatures where most minorities feel like segregation is the norm, coca cola came up with a commercial that is witty and relevant and resonates well with the American dream—promoting multiculturalism. The promotion is cool and features the song “America the Beautiful” in different languages. The development makes the 2017 SuperBowl games fascinating with many people retweeting the song.

2. Walmart’s- “Spark Change Campaign.”

Walmart partnered with Feeding America Organization in the Fight Hunger –Spark Change Campaign. Walmart used influencers and celebrities who posted on their walls that for every like, share or comment on #fighthunger; the Walmart Foundation would donate $0.9 to Feeding America. The campaign became a hit almost immediately with the campaign reaching its targeted tweets and shares within a day instead of the 30 day period the company had set.

3. Exxon Mobil- “Build Tomorrow Video Series.”

Engineering is not a topic that young people want to talk about on social media. Exxon Mobil in partnership with different public relations firms decided to run a campaign on social media highlighting success stories of engineers and what they do in the field. The videos series became a hit almost immediately with young people aspiring to be engineers.

4. Apple’s Twitter Handle- @Apple Support

The tech giant Apple has always shied away from social media. For instance, it does not have a Facebook page or even a twitter handle. Recently it opened a Twitter account handle called @AppleSupport. The Twitter handle will give tips, tricks, hacks and answer questions about the products that the company offers.

The twitter handle is a break from the norm where Apple is focusing more on customer experience other than offering corporate social responsibilities initiatives to gain a following like most corporate do.

5. General Electric’s Facebook Page- “Imagination at Work.”

General Electric has created a social media that is unparalleled. The community engagement forum mostly focuses on issues dealing with health, energy, infrastructure and General Electrics products.

The company’s Facebook page has a tagline “Imagination at work,” which captivates a lot of their customers and makes engaging with the business fascinating.

One of the most successful campaigns GE has run is one of the latest appliance Aros-an air conditioners that one can easily control with their smartphone. The punchline is the world’s smartest app-enabled air conditioner that was invented by someone just like you.

Another successful ad campaign was through a video series showcasing firsts. There were two people namely Kumiko and Zeng. They both had a first in Ultrasound and flight consecutively. Both experiences showcase General Electric’s impact on our everyday lives.

Social media has changed the way of doing business for companies all over the world. As such, a company’s promotional campaign ought to resonate well with the user, or they will be out of the market in a very short time. Creativity and wittiness are essential to run successful promotional campaigns on social media.

Defining your brand is the most crucial step in developing your business plan. One of the most common sayings is “Marketing like the Big Brands”. What does marketing like the big brands mean?

These big brands started with a marketing strategy and a well-crafted plan. They defined their business in a compelling way.

Branding is the first step in your marketing strategy. In order to make a marketing plan, you have to define what you stand for and what types of products and services that a customer can expect from you. This is the first and very important step in the branding process.

A Novel Approach To Brand Strategy:

A recognizable brand is not only desirable it is required. You should consider your brand planning through two perspectives; from the inside out and the outside in.

The inside-out perspective identifies the thing that makes your brand unique, and the outside in perspective allows you to discover the true value of the brand in the market.

When defining your brand, you should clear the picture of how your brand and business is described. The path in building your brand should be clear and concise.

Make an Inventory of your Skills And Customers Needs:

It is important to think about what you can give and what your customers need. Identify your skills, what you are especially good at and what you want your customers to think. Think of all things you can do. Your unique set of skills that make your customers come to you.

Make it Different:

There are so many brands in the market. All are same yet very different. Focus on their tactics and strategies. How they made their brands different from each other. For example: if someone is selling shoes, same like other brands. What can be so different about that shoe brand to attract so many customers? Its specifications, features and what else? Focus on these things and make a list. Think through the kind of things you can do that make your customers come to you. Your brand should be defined on the base of your abilities to fulfill the needs of your customers.

Tell Your Story:

Every brand has a story. What’s yours?

A story is a punch line of your experiences, your breakthrough, and your goals. Your target audience needs to have a story or message in their minds when they think about your brand. Brand storytelling is commonly known as influencer marketing. Influencer marketing is more effective than any other traditional marketing strategies.

Make your message clear:

The message your brand delivers should be simple and clear. It is also important to be specific about your brand and its message. The key to the best brand strategy is to define your brand in a clear yet concise way. Engage your audience with your message. Make it appealing and constructive.

Your message is the key to the success of your business. Making it strictly specific will close out the future business building deals. In order to expand, make sure to define your business in a balanced way. A focused, different and clear message is the key to growth.